County Commissioners Hear More About Possible Plans For New Juvenile Center

berriencountyadmin2-45
berriencountyadmin2-45

The Berrien County Board of Commissioners is hearing more about a plan for a new county juvenile center. In June, commissioners were told the lifespan of the current building in Berrien Center is almost up. During a Thursday meeting, Commissioner Jim Curran said Spectrum Health Lakeland has spoken to the administration committee about the need for it to find a new facility for its Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Center.

“The general hospital building out there is at the end of its life,” Curran said. “It any day now could just fall apart on us and we would be in trouble because all of the utilities go from the hospital to the juvenile center.”

Curran said Spectrum Health Lakeland has suggested the county build a new facility which the hospital could lease from the county. The committee had instructions for County Administrator Brian Dissette.

“To put together a concept of, out there on the Napier property, put in a juvenile center, the family court, and a building that would be 14,000 that would be suitable to house Sacred Heart.”

One deadline faced by the county is the federal deadline to spend ARPA funds, which could go toward the project. Administrator Dissette previously told commissioners the county could eventually locate other services at the new building along Napier Avenue, should it be built.